Writing it out: Materializing a person

Here’s the dual-intentions-from-afar story I promised at the end of Yes you can write it out and have it happen. 

‘Dual intentions from afar’ sounds vague, doesn’t it? What I mean is this: two people, who did not know each other, each voiced an intention that the other could fulfill.

You’ve already read Dorrie’s version, and if you haven’t simply click on the link above to check out her groovy tale. Here’s how it played out on my side.

We needed another art consultant at the gallery and I found myself  frustrated with the process unfolding before me, yet again. Oof! (That was the then me letting the deflated air out just thinking about it.) The past few hadn’t worked out and we’d wasted time, effort and money. I was loathe to go through that again. 

I dreaded going through the same time-sucking steps: crafting the plea (please very cool person, come play with us!), placing the ads and notices, wading through the many resumes, all the interviews to sit through, and then maybe, maybe we’d land another one who might not work out!

A complication: We also had one team member who was beloved but difficult, especially on newbies. She’d already run off a couple others and it hadn’t been pretty. There’d been hissing and flare ups and loss of dignity. 

At some point it hit me — hey, I believe you can attract things into your life, why not a person? Why not the right person? So I decided to sit down and write it out, to get very clear on the qualities we wanted.

So I plunked down on the daybed on the balcony — where I performed my best magical thinking — and wrote it out. 

I asked for someone to plop into my lap without big effort — I had so much else going on! (We’d moved into a new space with larger commitments in every direction, monetarily, art flow, a hundred other little things that each ramped up.)

I asked for someone sharp of mind, for someone harmonious and enjoyable, someone who could get along famously with Beloved But Difficult. (!)

I asked for someone already art passionate and art knowledgeable.

I kept it simple, it didn’t go over a page.

Three days later Dorrie Koller walked in with a young friend to see the latest at the gallery. Both were artists who’d not long ago graduated with their four-year degrees, Dorrie in her fifties as she’d gone back to school later in life. 

As we were talking I realized either one might be perfect for the position. I told them about it, they both jumped excitedly at the opportunity, and for the first and only time in my life I conducted a double interview. 

Dorrie won out because of her experience. Age was definitely in her favor. And her wide-open personality. Most galleries like to hire pretty young things, and had that been the case her young friend would have been hired. It’s my view that clients who buy artwork — who tend to be mature, successful, and broadly experienced — want someone they can stand toe to toe with and discuss art, love, The Beatles, their home, life! . . . you know, they want someone they can relate to.

So Dorrie won the day.

You know what? It turns out Dorrie was already friendly with Beloved But Difficult. You can’t plan these things out!

Here’s what I also like about how this played out. Two of us, more or less unknown to each other, were writing out our fondest desires for certain aspects of our lives — and we were then brought together in perfect timing as fulfillment of those desires. 

Even better — for me — I didn’t have to lift a finger. (!) She came to me. And from Dorrie’s perspective, the gallery opened its doors to her far beyond expectations.

Isn’t it thrilling that what we seek also seeks us?!

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